Sweet Sorrento

On our trip to Italy last year we decided to stay an extra day in Sorrento. Sorrento is a city that breathes the life of Italy, the Italian culture and the beauty of the coast. Lazy days walking the streets shopping, looking out into the clear blue water and eating delicacies along the way was our last taste of Italy in beautiful Sorrento. Sorrento is a coastal town on the Sorrentine Peninsula in southwestern Italy. It faces the Bay of Naples. It is known for its water view and for cafe-lined streets in the famous Piazza Tasso.

In Sorrento, you feel the bustle of city life, coupled with an old world charm. You can delight in eating Nutella crepes as you walk among streets of inside and outside vendors. Lemons are everywhere to be found. Sorrento lemons are extremely aromatic and larger than lemons grown in the United States. Their pulp contains very few seeds and is used to make Limoncello, a favorite Italian liqueur. It tastes perfect chilled after a satisfying meal. In Sorrento, you will see natives eating lemons with just a touch of sugar.

Jewelry stands, leather outlets and so much more can take up your entire day as you explore the nooks and crannies of this bustling city. The exotic foods of Italy are often displayed in the storefronts begging you to come in and try. Fresh sausage, fruit and cheeses bring out special aromas that make you want to stop for a small meal or a fancy feast of homemade delicacies.

We spent time relishing in each store and down each side street to take in our last breath of Italy. We ate dinner in LaLanterna’s outside cafe and enjoyed fresh pasta, fish, homemade breads and delicious tiramisu. We came to realize that Italians are so proud of their meals that they will not serve them “American“ style. When eating a fresh pasta with assorted fish, you cannot ask for any cheese on it. They will simply say no. They will say no over and over again. After some research I found that Italians do not like to take away from their authentic meals by adding cheese to it. As Americans we tend to ”drown” Italian food with mozzarella. You will rarely see the parmigiano dishes we are so used to in restaurants in Italy. They are proud of the flavors and textures in their herbs and sauces. Americans tend to pile the mozzarella on. If this is your preference, you may have difficulty eating in Italy. At LaLanterna, we were also able to enjoy homemade gnocchi. These were so light I was actually able to eat the entire dish. This meal was our last in Italy and one of our best, topped off with some delicious Chianti.

We stayed in Sant’Agnello a few miles outside of Sorrento. There we visited the local beach (La Marinella), pubs, restaurants and quaint coffee houses. It was interesting to take an elevator down to the beach and see the beautiful cliffs above you. Each day we taxied to the marina to visit Amalfi and Capri, or spent the time playing tourists in the city of Sorrento. We walked under the lemon trees and relished in the Italian culture surrounding us. We took in the architecture and beauty of the famous Cathedral of Saints Philip and James. We watched tourists negotiate with vendors for food, dry goods and souvenirs. Some tourist took a horse and buggy ride in the main piazza and enjoyed the balmy July evening.

While walking along parts of Sorrento, you can catch a view of the Bay of Naples, Vesuvius and the Isle of Capri. If you are daring you can take the narrow road Amalfi Drive, which connect Amalfi and Sorrento, and enjoy and gasp at the sights of the beautiful high cliffs above the Tyrrhenian Sea. You can also take a ferry to Naples, Amalfi, Positano, Capri and Ischia. The marinas, Marina Grande and Marina Piccolo are bustling areas where people run to catch ferries, relax with a gelato and even grab a cold beverage or hot espresso or cappuccino. Ferries are available throughout day. The best ones offer a tour guide to visit the cliff and seaside areas along the Amalfi Coast. None of the pictures you see can compare to the sites you will experience here. When traveling to Italy, pass through or stay awhile in Sorrento. You will leave a piece of your heart there....